Gaming system, gaming device and method for displaying multiple concurrent games using dynamic focal points

ABSTRACT

The gaming system disclosed herein changes the focal point of a display device at different points in time to assist the player in focusing on different simultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time. Specifically, the gaming system displays a plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games on a display device. In response to a designated event occurring in association with a specific one of the plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games, the gaming system changes the focal point of the display device to draw the player&#39;s focus or attention to that specific one of the simultaneously or concurrently played games. Put differently, the gaming system dynamically allocates and/or indicates different portions of a display device to different simultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time to account for different events occurring in such simultaneously or concurrently played games.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation application of, claims priority toand the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/134,716, filed onDec. 19, 2013, which is a continuation application of, claims priorityto and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/678,467, filedon Nov. 15, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,820, which is a continuationapplication of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/245,264, filed on Sep. 26, 2011, now U.S. Pat.No. 8,333,657, the entire contents of which are each incorporated byreference herein.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or maycontain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyrightowner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of thepatent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appearsin the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines which provide players awards in primary or base gamesare well known. Gaming machines generally require the player to place ormake a wager to activate a primary or base game. Certain known gamingmachines enable a player to wager on and play a plurality of primary orbase games simultaneously. In many of these gaming machines, the awardfor each played primary game is based on the player obtaining a winningsymbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager placed onthat primary game (e.g., the higher the wager, the higher the award).Generally, symbols or symbol combinations which are less likely to occurusually provide higher awards.

Gaming machines which provide secondary or bonus games are also known.The secondary or bonus games usually provide an additional award, suchas a bonus award, to the player. Secondary or bonus games usually do notrequire an additional wager by the player to be activated. Instead,secondary or bonus games are generally activated or triggered upon anoccurrence of a designated triggering symbol or triggering symbolcombination in a primary or base game. For instance, a bonus symboloccurring on the payline on the third reel of a three reel slot machinemay trigger a secondary bonus game. When a secondary or bonus game istriggered, the gaming machine generally indicates this triggering to theplayer through one or more visual and/or audio output devices, such asthe reels, lights, speakers, video screens, etc. Part of the enjoymentand excitement of playing certain gaming machines is the occurrence ortriggering of the secondary or bonus game (even before the player knowshow much the bonus award will be).

Certain known gaming machines display each played primary game and anybonus or secondary games on a primary display. Other known gamingmachines display each played primary game on the primary display and anybonus or secondary games on a secondary display. In these known gamingmachines, when a plurality of primary games and/or secondary games aresimultaneously displayed to the player at one time on one displaydevice, the total amount of information displayed in association withthese multiple displayed games confuses certain players. Moreover,because different events may or may not be occurring in the differentsimultaneously played games at different points in time, certain playersare unsure of where to look and worry about missing one or moredisplayed events in one or more of the displayed games.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need to provide new and differentgaming machines and gaming systems as well as new and different ways todisplay games including primary games and secondary games.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems, gamingdevices, and methods for displaying multiple concurrent games usingdynamic focal points.

In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device and methoddisclosed herein changes the focal point of a display device atdifferent points in time to assist the player in focusing on differentsimultaneously or concurrently played games at different points in time.Specifically, the gaming system displays a plurality of simultaneously,concurrently or overlapping played games on a display device. Inresponse to a designated event occurring in association with a specificone of the plurality of simultaneously or concurrently played games, thegaming system changes the focal point of the display device to draw theplayer's focus or attention to that specific one of the simultaneouslyor concurrently played games. Put differently, the gaming system andmethod disclosed herein dynamically allocates and/or indicates differentportions of a display device to different simultaneously or concurrentlyplayed games at different points in time to account for different eventsoccurring in such simultaneously or concurrently played games. Such aconfiguration increases a player's enjoyment and excitement by aiding orotherwise assisting the player in determining which of the plurality ofsimultaneously or concurrently played games to view or otherwise focuson at different points in time.

In one embodiment, the gaming system concurrently or substantiallyconcurrently displays a plurality of plays of a plurality of games to aplayer utilizing a display device, such as a primary display device. Inone such embodiment, the plurality of displayed games have differentgame cycle times. For example, one of the displayed games is anindividual slot game having a first game cycle of a first amount of timewhile another of the displayed games is a community card game having adifferent, second game cycle of a second, different amount of time. Suchdifferent game cycle amounts of time provides that different eventswhich require the player's attention are occurring in the differentgames at different points in time.

The gaming system monitors the plurality of concurrently played games todetermine if a display reconfiguration event occurs in association withany of the played games. In one such embodiment, a displayreconfiguration event occurs when an input is required by a player inone of the games, such as when the player is required to take an actionin a community card game. In another such embodiment, a displayreconfiguration event occurs when an outcome is displayed in one of thegames, such as when all of a plurality of reels stop spinning to displaya symbol combination in an individual slot game.

Upon an occurrence of a display reconfiguration event, the gaming systemdetermines whether the current configuration of how the plurality ofconcurrently played games are displayed corresponds with the displayreconfiguration event which occurred. That is, the gaming systemdetermines whether the current configuration of how the game displayarea of the display device is utilized to simultaneously display theplurality of games adequately draws the player's focus or attention tothe event or events occurring in a specific one of the plurality ofgames played.

If the current configuration of how the plurality of concurrently playedgames are displayed corresponds with the display reconfiguration eventwhich occurred, the gaming system does not modify or alter how any ofthe plurality of concurrently played games are displayed. For example,if the display reconfiguration event is a display of a symbolcombination in a play of a slot game and the current configuration ofthe display device is already such that the slot game is the focal pointof the display device (e.g., the slot game is displayed as a larger gamethan the other concurrently played games), the gaming system does notmodify or alter how the slot game or the other concurrently played gamesare displayed to the player.

On the other hand, if the current configuration of how the plurality ofconcurrently played games are displayed does not correspond with thedisplay reconfiguration event which occurred, the gaming systemreconfigures or modifies how one or more of the concurrently displayedgames are displayed to the player. In one such embodiment, the gamingsystem reconfigures or modifies how one or more of the displayed gamesare displayed to the player by scaling the displayed size of theplurality of concurrently played games. In this embodiment, the gamingsystem modifies which of such games are allocated a first portion of thegame display area (i.e., the available space of the display device) andwhich of such games are allocated a second, smaller portion of the gamedisplay area. For example, if the display reconfiguration event is aneed for a player's input in a bonus game triggered in association witha play of a slot game and the current configuration of the displaydevice is that a community card game is the focal point of the displaydevice (e.g., the community card game is displayed as a larger game thanthe individual slot game, thus drawing the player's attention to thecommunity card game), the gaming system modifies or alters how theconcurrently played games are displayed by scaling the slot game and thecommunity card game such that the slot game is displayed as a largergame than the community card game. In this example, such scaling of atleast the slot game and the community card game is configured to drawthe player's attention to the slot game to focus the player on therequired input in the triggered bonus game.

After reconfiguring or modifying how one or more of the concurrentlydisplayed games are displayed to the player, the gaming system continuesmonitoring the plurality of concurrently played games for any subsequentdisplay reconfiguration events and proceeds with possibly reconfiguringhow such concurrently played games are displayed to the player.

Accordingly, such a gaming system provides that at a first point in timeand in response to an event occurring in association with a first one ofa plurality of concurrently played games, the gaming system allocates afirst portion of a game play area of a display device to the first oneof the concurrently played games and allocates a second, different sizedportion of the game play area of the display device to a second one ofthe concurrently played game. Such a gaming system further provides thatat a second, subsequent point in time and in response to an eventoccurring in association with the second one of a plurality ofconcurrently played games, the gaming system allocates the first portionof the game play area of the display device to the second one of theconcurrently played games and allocates the second, different sizedportion of the game play area of the display device to the first one ofthe concurrently played game. This variable allocation of displaying thedifferent games concurrently being played effectively changes the focalpoint for the player at different points in time. Such different focalpoints aid or assist the player in focusing on different games inassociation with different events occurring in such games which reducesthe confusion suffered by certain players to increase the amount ofenjoyment and excitement of these players.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a front-side perspective view of one embodiment of the gamingdevice disclosed herein.

FIG. 1B is a front-side perspective view of another embodiment of thegaming device disclosed herein.

FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram of the electronic configuration ofone embodiment of the gaming device disclosed herein.

FIG. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustrating a plurality of gamingdevices in communication with a central controller.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the gaming system disclosedherein illustrating a determination of whether to reconfigure a displaydevice based on one or more events occurring in association with one ormore concurrently played games.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views of one example of game play screens of agaming device disclosed herein illustrating the reconfiguration of adisplay device based on one or more events occurring in association withone or more concurrently played games.

FIG. 5 is a front view of another example of a game play screen of agaming device disclosed herein illustrating a configuration of how aplurality of concurrently played games are displayed to a player.

FIG. 6 is a front view of another example of a game play screen of agaming device disclosed herein illustrating a configuration of how aplurality of concurrently played games are displayed to a player.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure may be implemented in various configurations forgaming machines, gaming devices, or gaming systems, including but notlimited to: (1) a dedicated gaming machine, gaming device, or gamingsystem wherein the computerized instructions for controlling any games(which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) are providedwith the gaming machine or gaming device prior to delivery to a gamingestablishment; and (2) a changeable gaming machine, gaming device, orgaming system wherein the computerized instructions for controlling anygames (which are provided by the gaming machine or gaming device) aredownloadable to the gaming machine or gaming device through a datanetwork after the gaming machine or gaming device is in a gamingestablishment. In one embodiment, the computerized instructions forcontrolling any games are executed by at least one central server,central controller, or remote host. In such a “thin client” embodiment,the central server remotely controls any games (or other suitableinterfaces) and the gaming device is utilized to display such games (orsuitable interfaces) and receive one or more inputs or commands from aplayer. In another embodiment, the computerized instructions forcontrolling any games are communicated from the central server, centralcontroller, or remote host to a gaming device local processor and memorydevices. In such a “thick client” embodiment, the gaming device localprocessor executes the communicated computerized instructions to controlany games (or other suitable interfaces) provided to a player.

In one embodiment, one or more gaming devices in a gaming system may bethin client gaming devices and one or more gaming devices in the gamingsystem may be thick client gaming devices. In another embodiment,certain functions of the gaming device are implemented in a thin clientenvironment and certain other functions of the gaming device areimplemented in a thick client environment. In one such embodiment,computerized instructions for controlling any primary games arecommunicated from the central server to the gaming device in a thickclient configuration and computerized instructions for controlling anysecondary games or bonus functions are executed by a central server in athin client configuration.

Referring now to the drawings, two example alternative embodiments of agaming device disclosed herein are illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B asgaming device 10 a and gaming device 10 b, respectively. Gaming device10 a and/or gaming device 10 b are generally referred to herein asgaming device 10.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, gaming device 10 hasa support structure, housing, or cabinet which provides support for aplurality of displays, inputs, controls, and other features of aconventional gaming machine. It is configured so that a player canoperate it while standing or sitting. The gaming device can bepositioned on a base or stand or can be configured as a pub-styletable-top game (not shown) which a player can operate preferably whilesitting. As illustrated by the different configurations shown in FIGS.1A and 1B, the gaming device may have varying cabinet and displayconfigurations.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the gaming devicepreferably includes at least one processor 12, such as a microprocessor,a microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit or oneor more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's). The processoris in communication with or operable to access or to exchange signalswith at least one data storage or memory device 14. In one embodiment,the processor and the memory device reside within the cabinet of thegaming device. The memory device stores program code and instructions,executable by the processor, to control the gaming device. The memorydevice also stores other data such as image data, event data, playerinput data, random or pseudo-random number generators, pay-table data orinformation, and applicable game rules that relate to the play of thegaming device. In one embodiment, the memory device includes randomaccess memory (RAM), which can include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM),magnetic RAM (MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and other forms ascommonly understood in the gaming industry. In one embodiment, thememory device includes read only memory (ROM). In one embodiment, thememory device includes flash memory and/or EEPROM (electrically erasableprogrammable read only memory). Any other suitable magnetic, optical,and/or semiconductor memory may operate in conjunction with the gamingdevice disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, part or all of the program code and/or operating datadescribed above can be stored in a detachable or removable memorydevice, including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk, CDROM, DVD, a non-transitory computer readable medium, or USB memorydevice. In other embodiments, part or all of the program code and/oroperating data described above can be downloaded to the memory devicethrough a suitable network.

In one embodiment, an operator or a player can use such a removablememory device in a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a hand-helddevice, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computingor mobile device, or another computerized platform to implement thepresent disclosure. In one embodiment, the gaming device or gamingmachine disclosed herein is operable over a wireless network, forexample as part of a wireless gaming system. In one such embodiment, thegaming machine may be a hand-held device, a mobile device, or any othersuitable wireless device that enables a player to play any suitable gameat a variety of different locations. In various embodiments in which thegaming device or gaming machine is a hand-held device, a mobile device,or any other suitable wireless device, at least one memory device and atleast one processor which control the game or other operations of thehand-held device, mobile device, or other suitable wireless device maybe located: (a) at the hand-held device, mobile device or other suitablewireless device; (b) at a central server or central controller; or (c)any suitable combination of the central server or central controller andthe hand-held device, mobile device or other suitable wireless device.It should be appreciated that a gaming device or gaming machine asdisclosed herein may be a device that has obtained approval from aregulatory gaming commission or a device that has not obtained approvalfrom a regulatory gaming commission. It should be appreciated that theprocessor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein as a“computer” or “controller.”

In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gaming devicerandomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes based onprobability data. In one such embodiment, this random determination isprovided through utilization of a random number generator (RNG), such asa true random number generator, a pseudo random number generator, orother suitable randomization process. In one embodiment, each award orother game outcome is associated with a probability and the gamingdevice generates the award or other game outcome to be provided to theplayer based on the associated probabilities. In this embodiment, sincethe gaming device generates outcomes randomly or based upon one or moreprobability calculations, there is no certainty that the gaming devicewill ever provide the player with any specific award or other gameoutcome.

In another embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the gamingdevice employs a predetermined or finite set or pool of awards or othergame outcomes. In this embodiment, as each award or other game outcomeis provided to the player, the gaming device flags or removes theprovided award or other game outcome from the predetermined set or pool.Once flagged or removed from the set or pool, the specific providedaward or other game outcome from that specific pool cannot be providedto the player again. This type of gaming device provides players withall of the available awards or other game outcomes over the course ofthe play cycle and guarantees the amount of actual wins and losses.

In another embodiment, as discussed below, upon a player initiating gameplay at the gaming device, the gaming device enrolls in a bingo game. Inthis embodiment, a bingo server calls the bingo balls that result in aspecific bingo game outcome. The resultant game outcome is communicatedto the individual gaming device to be provided to a player. In oneembodiment, this bingo outcome is displayed to the player as a bingogame and/or in any form in accordance with the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the gaming device includesone or more display devices controlled by the processor. The displaydevices are preferably connected to or mounted on the cabinet of thegaming device. The embodiment shown in FIG. 1A includes a centraldisplay device 16 which displays a primary game. This display device mayalso display any suitable secondary game associated with the primarygame as well as information relating to the primary or secondary game.The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 1B includes a central displaydevice 16 and an upper display device 18. The upper display device maydisplay the primary game, any suitable secondary game associated or notassociated with the primary game and/or information relating to theprimary or secondary game. These display devices may also serve asdigital glass operable to: (i) advertise games or other aspects of thegaming establishment, or (ii) display the specific game (from theplurality of simultaneously played game) which is currently in focus onthe central display device. As seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, in oneembodiment, the gaming device includes a credit display 20 whichdisplays a player's current number of credits, cash, account balance, orthe equivalent. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a betdisplay 22 which displays a player's amount wagered. In one embodiment,as described in more detail below, the gaming device includes a playertracking display 40 which displays information regarding a player's playtracking status.

In another embodiment, at least one display device may be a mobiledisplay device, such as a PDA or tablet PC, that enables play of atleast a portion of the primary or secondary game at a location remotefrom the gaming device.

The display devices may include, without limitation, a monitor, atelevision display, a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) adisplay based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), a display based on aplurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based onpolymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality ofsurface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including aprojected and/or reflected image, or any other suitable electronicdevice or display mechanism, in one embodiment, as described in moredetail below, the display device includes a touch-screen with anassociated touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of anysuitable size and configuration, such as a square, a rectangle or anelongated rectangle.

The display devices of the gaming device are configured to display atleast one and preferably a plurality of game or other suitable images,symbols and indicia such as any visual representation or exhibition ofthe movement of objects such as mechanical, virtual, or video reels andwheels, dynamic lighting, video images, images of people, characters,places, things, faces of cards, and the like.

In one alternative embodiment, the symbols, images and indicia displayedon or of the display device may be in mechanical form. That is, thedisplay device may include any electromechanical device, such as one ormore mechanical objects, such as one or more rotatable wheels, reels, ordice, configured to display at least one or a plurality of game or othersuitable images, symbols or indicia.

As illustrated in FIG. 2A, in one embodiment, the gaming device includesat least one payment device 24 in communication with the processor. Asseen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a payment device such as a payment acceptorincludes a note, ticket or bill acceptor 28 wherein the player insertspaper money, a ticket, or voucher and a coin slot 26 where the playerinserts money, coins, or tokens. In other embodiments, payment devicessuch as readers or validators for credit cards, debit cards or creditslips may accept payment. In one embodiment, a player may insert anidentification card into a card reader of the gaming device. In oneembodiment, the identification card is a smart card having a programmedmicrochip, a coded magnetic strip or coded rewritable magnetic strip,wherein the programmed microchip or magnetic strips are coded with aplayers identification, credit totals (or related data), and/or otherrelevant information. In another embodiment, a player may carry aportable device, such as a cell phone, a radio frequency identificationtag, or any other suitable wireless device, which communicates aplayer's identification, credit totals (or related data), and otherrelevant information to the gaming device. In one embodiment, money maybe transferred to a gaming device through electronic funds transfer.When a player funds the gaming device, the processor determines theamount of funds entered and displays the corresponding amount on thecredit or other suitable display as described above.

As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2A, in one embodiment the gaming deviceincludes at least one and preferably a plurality of input devices 30 incommunication with the processor. The input devices can include anysuitable device which enables the player to produce an input signalwhich is received by the processor. In one embodiment, after appropriatefunding of the gaming device, the input device is a game activationdevice, such as a play button 32 or a pull arm (not shown) which is usedby the player to start any primary game or sequence of events in thegaming device. The play button can be any suitable play activator suchas a bet one button, a max bet button, or a repeat the bet button. Inone embodiment, upon appropriate funding, the gaming device begins thegame play automatically. In another embodiment, upon the player engagingone of the play buttons, the gaming device automatically activates gameplay.

In one embodiment, one input device is a bet one button. The playerplaces a bet by pushing the bet one button. The player can increase thebet by one credit each time the player pushes the bet one button. Whenthe player pushes the bet one button, the number of credits shown in thecredit display preferably decreases by one, and the number of creditsshown in the bet display preferably increases by one. In anotherembodiment, one input device is a bet max button (not shown) whichenables the player to bet the maximum wager permitted for a game of thegaming device.

In one embodiment, one input device is a cash out button 34. The playermay push the cash out button and cash out to receive a cash payment orother suitable form of payment corresponding to the number of remainingcredits. In one embodiment, when the player cashes out, a paymentdevice, such as a ticket, payment, or note generator 36 prints orotherwise generates a ticket or credit slip to provide to the player.The player receives the ticket or credit slip and may redeem the valueassociated with the ticket or credit slip via a cashier for othersuitable redemption system). In another embodiment, when the playercashes out, the player receives the coins or tokens in a coin payouttray. It should be appreciated that any suitable payout mechanisms, suchas funding to the player's electronically recordable identification cardor smart card, may be implemented in accordance with the gaming devicedisclosed herein.

In one embodiment, as mentioned above and as seen in FIG. 2A, one inputdevice is a touch-screen 42 coupled with a touch-screen controller 44 orsome other touch-sensitive display overlay to allow for playerinteraction with the images on the display. The touch-screen and thetouch-screen controller are connected to a video controller 46. A playercan make decisions and input signals into the gaming device by touchingthe touch-screen at the appropriate locations. One such input device isa conventional touch-screen button panel.

The gaming device may further include a plurality of communication portsfor enabling communication of the processor with external peripherals,such as external video sources, expansion buses, game or other displays,a SCSI port, or a keypad.

In one embodiment, as seen in FIG. 2A, the gaming device includes asound generating device controlled by one or more sounds cards 48 whichfunction in conjunction with the processor. In one embodiment, the soundgenerating device includes at least one and preferably a plurality ofspeakers 50 or other sound generating hardware and/or software forgenerating sounds, such as by playing music for the primary and/orsecondary game or by playing music for other modes of the gaming device,such as an attract mode. In one embodiment, the gaming device providesdynamic sounds coupled with attractive multimedia images displayed onone or more of the display devices to provide an audio-visualrepresentation or to otherwise display full-motion video with sound toattract players to the gaming device. During idle periods, the gamingdevice may display a sequence of audio and/or visual attraction messagesto attract potential players to the gaming device. The videos may alsobe customized to provide any appropriate information.

In one embodiment, the gaming machine may include a sensor, such as acamera, in communication with the processor (and possibly controlled bythe processor), that is selectively positioned to acquire an image of aplayer actively using the gaming device and/or the surrounding area ofthe gaming device. In one embodiment, the camera may be configured toselectively acquire still or moving (e.g., video) images and may beconfigured to acquire the images in an analog, digital, or othersuitable format. The display devices may be configured to display theimage acquired by the camera as well as to display the visiblemanifestation of the game in split screen or picture-in-picture fashion.For example, the camera may acquire an image of the player and theprocessor may incorporate that image into the primary and/or secondarygame as a game image, symbol or indicia.

Gaming device 10 can incorporate any suitable wagering game as theprimary or base game. The gaming machine or device may include some orall of the features of conventional gaming machines or devices. Theprimary or base game may comprise any suitable reel-type game, cardgame, cascading or falling symbol game, number game, or other game ofchance susceptible to representation in an electronic orelectromechanical form, which in one embodiment produces a randomoutcome based on probability data at the time of or after placement of awager. That is, different primary wagering games, such as video pokergames, video blackjack games, video keno, video bingo or any othersuitable primary or base game may be implemented. In one embodiment, thedisclosed multi-dimensional cascading symbol game is implemented as abase or primary game.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a base or primarygame may be a slot game with one or more paylines 52. In thisembodiment, the gaming device includes at least one and preferably aplurality of reels 54, such as three to five reels 54, in eitherelectromechanical form with mechanical rotating reels or video form withsimulated reels and movement thereof. In one embodiment, anelectromechanical slot machine includes a plurality of adjacent,rotatable reels which may be combined and operably coupled with anelectronic display of any suitable type. In another embodiment, if thereels 54 are in video form, one or more of the display devices, asdescribed above, displays the plurality of simulated video reels 54.Each reel 54 displays a plurality of indicia or symbols, such as bells,hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars, or other images which preferablycorrespond to a theme associated with the gaming device. In anotherembodiment, one or more of the reels are independent reels or unisymbolreels. In this embodiment, each independent or unisymbol reel generatesand displays one symbol to the player.

In one embodiment, one or more of the paylines may be horizontal,vertical, circular, diagonal, angled or any combination thereof. Inanother embodiment, one or more of the paylines each include a pluralityof adjacent symbol display positions on a requisite number of adjacentreels. In one such embodiment, one or more paylines are formed betweenat least two symbol display positions which are adjacent to each otherby either sharing a common side or sharing a common corner (i.e., suchpaylines are connected paylines). In these embodiments, the gamingdevice enables a player to wager on one or more of such paylines toactivate such wagered on paylines.

In another embodiment wherein one or more paylines are formed between atleast two symbol display positions which are adjacent to each other, thegaming device enables a player to wager on and thus activate a pluralityof symbol display positions. In this embodiment, one or more paylineswhich are formed from a plurality of adjacent active symbol displaypositions on a requisite number of adjacent reels are activated.

In one embodiment, the gaming device awards prizes after the reels ofthe primary game stop spinning if specified types and/or configurationsof indicia or symbols occur on an active payline or otherwise occur in awinning pattern, occur on the requisite number of adjacent reels and/oroccur in a scatter pay arrangement.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than determining any outcome toprovide to the player by analyzing the symbols generated on any wageredupon paylines as described above, the gaming device determines anyoutcome to provide to the player based on the number of associatedsymbols which are generated in active symbol display positions on therequisite number of adjacent reels (i.e., not on paylines passingthrough any displayed winning symbol combinations). In this embodiment,if a winning symbol combination is generated on the reels, the gamingdevice provides the player one award for that occurrence of thegenerated winning symbol combination. For example, if one winning symbolcombination is generated on the reels, the gaming device will provide asingle award to the player for that winning symbol combination (i.e.,not based on the number of paylines that would have passed through thatwinning symbol combination). It should be appreciated that because agaming device that enables wagering on ways to win provides the playerone award for a single occurrence of a winning symbol combination and agaming device with paylines may provide the player more than one awardfor the same occurrence of a single winning symbol combination (i.e., ifa plurality of paylines each pass through the same winning symbolcombination), it is possible to provide a player at a ways to win gamingdevice with more ways to win for an equivalent bet or wager on atraditional slot gaming device with paylines.

In one embodiment, the total number of ways to win is determined bymultiplying the number of symbols generated in active symbol displaypositions on a first reel by the number of symbols generated in activesymbol display positions on a second reel by the number of symbolsgenerated in active symbol display positions on a third reel and so onfor each reel of the gaming device with at least one symbol generated inan active symbol display position. For example, a three reel gamingdevice with three symbols generated in active symbol display positionson each reel includes 27 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the firstreel×3 symbols on the second reel×3 symbols on the third reel). A fourreel gaming device with three symbols generated in active symbol displaypositions on each reel includes 81 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on thefirst reel×3 symbols on the second reel×3 symbols on the third reel×3symbols on the fourth reel). A five reel gaming device with threesymbols generated in active symbol display positions on each reelincludes 243 ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel×3 symbols onthe second reel×3 symbols on the third reel×3 symbols on the fourthreel×3 symbols on the fifth reel). It should be appreciated thatmodifying the number of generated symbols by either modifying the numberof reels or modifying the number of symbols generated in active symboldisplay positions by one or more of the reels modifies the number ofways to win.

In another embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to wager onand thus activate symbol display positions. In one such embodiment, thesymbol display positions are on the reels. In this embodiment, if basedon the player's wager, a reel is activated, then each of the symboldisplay positions of that reel will be activated and each of the activesymbol display positions will be part of one or more of the ways to win.In one embodiment, if based on the player's wager, a reel is notactivated, then a designated number of default symbol display positions,such as a single symbol display position of the middle row of the reel,will be activated and the default symbol display position(s) will bepart of one or more of the ways to win. This type of gaming machineenables a player to wager on one, more than one or all of the reels andthe processor of the gaming device uses the number of wagered on reelsto determine the active symbol display positions and the number ofpossible ways to win. In alternative embodiments, (1) no symbols aredisplayed as generated at any of the inactive symbol display positions,or (2) any symbols generated at any inactive symbol display positionsmay be displayed to the player but suitably shaded or otherwisedesignated as inactive.

In one embodiment wherein a player wagers on one or more reels, aplayer's wager of one credit may activate each of the three symboldisplay positions on a first reel, wherein one default symbol displayposition is activated on each of the remaining four reels. In thisexample, as described above, the gaming device provides the player threeways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel×1 symbol on the secondreel×1 symbol on the third reel×1 symbol on the fourth reel×1 symbol onthe fifth reel). In another example, a player's wager of nine creditsmay activate each of the three symbol display positions on a first reel,each of the three symbol display positions on a second reel and each ofthe three symbol display positions on a third reel wherein one defaultsymbol display position is activated on each of the remaining two reels.In this example, as described above, the gaming device provides theplayer twenty-seven ways to win (i.e., 3 symbols on the first reel×3symbols on the second reel×3 symbols on the third reel×1 symbol on thefourth reel×1 symbol on the fifth reel).

In one embodiment, to determine any award(s) to provide to the playerbased on the generated symbols, the gaming device individuallydetermines if a symbol generated in an active symbol display position ona first reel forms part of a winning symbol combination with or isotherwise suitably related to a symbol generated in an active symboldisplay position on a second reel. In this embodiment, the gaming deviceclassifies each pair of symbols which form part of a winning symbolcombination (i.e., each pair of related symbols) as a string of relatedsymbols. For example, if active symbol display positions include a firstcherry symbol generated in the top row of a first reel and a secondcherry symbol generated in the bottom row of a second reel, the gamingdevice classifies the two cherry symbols as a string of related symbolsbecause the two cherry symbols form part of a winning symbolcombination.

After determining if any strings of related symbols are formed betweenthe symbols on the first reel and the symbols on the second reel, thegaming device determines if any of the symbols from the next adjacentreel should be added to any of the formed strings of related symbols. Inthis embodiment, for a first of the classified strings of relatedsymbols, the gaming device determines if any of the symbols generated bythe next adjacent reel form part of a winning symbol combination or areotherwise related to the symbols of the first string of related symbols.If the gaming device determines that a symbol generated on the nextadjacent reel is related to the symbols of the first string of relatedsymbols, that symbol is subsequently added to the first string ofrelated symbols. For example, if the first string of related symbols isthe string of related cherry symbols and a related cherry symbol isgenerated in the middle row of the third reel, the gaming device addsthe related cherry symbol generated on the third reel to the previouslyclassified string of cherry symbols.

On the other hand, if the gaming device determines that no symbolsgenerated on the next adjacent reel are related to the symbols of thefirst string of related symbols, the gaming device marks or flags suchstring of related symbols as complete. For example, if the first stringof related symbols is the string of related cherry symbols and none ofthe symbols of the third reel are related to the cherry symbols of thepreviously classified string of cherry symbols, the gaming device marksor flags the string of two cherry symbols as complete.

After either adding a related symbol to the first string of relatedsymbols or marking the first string of related symbols as complete, thegaming device proceeds as described above for each of the remainingclassified strings of related symbols which were previously classifiedor formed from related symbols on the first and second reels.

After analyzing each of the remaining strings of related symbols, thegaming device determines, for each remaining pending or incompletestring of related symbols, if any of the symbols from the next adjacentreel, if any, should be added to any of the previously classifiedstrings of related symbols. This process continues until either eachstring of related symbols is complete or there are no more adjacentreels of symbols to analyze. In this embodiment, where there are no moreadjacent reels of symbols to analyze, the gaming device marks each ofthe remaining pending strings of related symbols as complete.

When each of the strings of related symbols is marked complete, thegaming device compares each of the strings of related symbols to anappropriate paytable and provides the player any award associated witheach of the completed strings of symbols. It should be appreciated thatthe player is provided one award, if any, for each string of relatedsymbols generated in active symbol display positions (i.e., as opposedto a quantity of awards being based on how many paylines that would havepassed through each of the strings of related symbols in active symboldisplay positions).

In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a poker game whereinthe gaming device enables the player to play a conventional game ofvideo draw poker and initially deals five cards all face up from avirtual deck of fifty-two cards. Cards may be dealt as in a traditionalgame of cards or in the case of the gaming device, the cards may berandomly selected from a predetermined number of cards. If the playerwishes to draw, the player selects the cards to hold via one or moreinput devices, such as by pressing related hold buttons or via the touchscreen. The player then presses the deal button and the unwanted ordiscarded cards are removed from the display and the gaming machinedeals the replacement cards from the remaining cards in the deck. Thisresults in a final five-card hand. The gaming device compares the finalfive-card hand to a payout table which utilizes conventional poker handrankings to determine the winning hands. The gaming device provides theplayer with an award based on a winning hand and the number of creditsthe player wagered.

In another embodiment, the base or primary game may be a multi-handversion of video poker. In this embodiment, the gaming device deals theplayer at least two hands of cards. In one such embodiment, the cardsare the same cards. In one embodiment each hand of cards is associatedwith its own deck of cards. The player chooses the cards to hold in aprimary hand. The held cards in the primary hand are also held in theother hands of cards. The remaining non-held cards are removed from eachhand displayed and for each hand replacement cards are randomly dealtinto that hand. Since the replacement cards are randomly dealtindependently for each hand, the replacement cards for each hand willusually be different. The poker hand rankings are then determined handby hand against a payout table and awards are provided to the player.

In one embodiment, a base or primary game may be a keno game wherein thegaming device displays a plurality of selectable indicia or numbers onat least one of the display devices. In this embodiment, the playerselects at least one bit potentially a plurality of the selectableindicia or numbers via an input device such as a touch screen. Thegaming device then displays a series of drawn numbers and determine anamount of matches, if any, between the player's selected numbers and thegaming device's drawn numbers. The player is provided an award based onthe amount of matches, if any, based on the amount of determined matchesand the number of numbers drawn.

In one embodiment, in addition to winning credits or other awards in abase or primary game, the gaming device may also give players theopportunity to win credits in a bonus or secondary game or in a bonus orsecondary round. In one embodiment, the disclosed multi-dimensionalcascading symbol game is implemented as a bonus or secondary game. Thebonus or secondary game enables the player to obtain a prize or payoutin addition to the prize or payout, if any, obtained from the base orprimary game. In general, a bonus or secondary game produces asignificantly higher level of player excitement than the base or primarygame because it provides a greater expectation of winning than the baseor primary game, and is accompanied with more attractive or unusualfeatures than the base or primary game. In one embodiment, the bonus orsecondary game may be any type of suitable game, either similar to orcompletely different from the base or primary game.

In one embodiment, the triggering event or qualifying condition may be aselected outcome in the primary game or a particular arrangement of oneor more indicia on a display device in the primary game, such as thenumber seven appearing on three adjacent reels along a payline in theprimary slot game embodiment seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In otherembodiments, the triggering event or qualifying condition occurs basedon exceeding a certain amount of game play (such as number of games,number of credits, amount of time), or reaching a specified number ofpoints earned during game play.

In another embodiment, the gaming device processor 12 or centralcontroller 56 randomly provides the player one or more plays of one ormore secondary games. In one such embodiment, the gaming device does notprovide any apparent reason to the player for qualifying to play asecondary or bonus game. In this embodiment, qualifying for a bonus gameis not triggered by an event in or based specifically on any of theplays of any primary game. That is, the gaming device may simply qualifya player to play a secondary game without any explanation oralternatively with simple explanations. In another embodiment, thegaming device (or central server) qualifies a player for a secondarygame at least partially based on a game triggered or symbol triggeredevent, such as at least partially based on the play of a primary game.

In one embodiment, the gaming device includes a program which willautomatically begin a bonus round after the player has achieved atriggering event or qualifying condition in the base or primary game. Inanother embodiment, after a player has qualified for a bonus game, theplayer may subsequently enhance his/her bonus game participation throughcontinued play on the base or primary game. Thus, for each bonusqualifying event, such as a bonus symbol, that the player obtains, agiven number of bonus game wagering points or credits may be accumulatedin a “bonus meter” programmed to accrue the bonus wagering credits orentries toward eventual participation in a bonus game. The occurrence ofmultiple such bonus qualifying events in the primary game may result inan arithmetic or exponential increase in the number of bonus wageringcredits awarded. In one embodiment, the player may redeem extra bonuswagering credits during the bonus game to extend play of the bonus game.

In one embodiment, no separate entry fee or buy-in for a bonus game isneeded. That is, a player may not purchase entry into a bonus game;rather they must win or earn entry through play of the primary game,thus encouraging play of the primary game. In another embodiment,qualification of the bonus or secondary game is accomplished through asimple “buy-in” by the player—for example, if the player has beenunsuccessful at qualifying through other specified activities. Inanother embodiment, the player must make a separate side-wager on thebonus game or wager a designated amount in the primary game to qualifyfor the secondary game. In this embodiment, the secondary gametriggering event must occur and the side-wager (or designated primarygame wager amount) must have been placed to trigger the secondary game.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, one or more of the gamingdevices 10 are in communication with each other and/or at least onecentral controller 56 through a data network or remote communicationlink 58. In this embodiment, the central server, central controller orremote host is any suitable server or computing device which includes atleast one processor and at least one memory or storage device. Indifferent such embodiments, the central server is a progressivecontroller or a processor of one of the gaming devices in the gamingsystem. In these embodiments, the processor of each gaming device isdesigned to transmit and receive events, messages, commands, or anyother suitable data or signal between the individual gaming device andthe central server. The gaming device processor is operable to executesuch communicated events, messages, or commands in conjunction with theoperation of the gaming device. Moreover, the processor of the centralserver is designed to transmit and receive events, messages, commands,or any other suitable data or signal between the central server and eachof the individual gaming devices. The central server processor isoperable to execute such communicated events, messages, or commands inconjunction with the operation of the central server. It should beappreciated that one, more or each of the functions of the centralcontroller, central server or remote host as disclosed herein may beperformed by one or more gaming device processors. It should be furtherappreciated that one, more or each of the functions of one or moregaming device processors as disclosed herein may be performed by thecentral controller, central server or remote host.

In one embodiment, the game outcome provided to the player is determinedby a central server or controller and provided to the player at thegaming device. In this embodiment, each of a plurality of such gamingdevices are in communication with the central server or controller. Upona player initiating game play at one of the gaming devices, theinitiated gaming device communicates a game outcome request to thecentral server or controller.

In one embodiment, the central server or controller receives the gameoutcome request and randomly generates a game outcome for the primarygame based on probability data. In another embodiment, the centralserver or controller randomly generates a game outcome for the secondarygame based on probability data. In another embodiment, the centralserver or controller randomly generates a game outcome for both theprimary game and the secondary game based on probability data. In thisembodiment, the central server or controller is capable of storing andutilizing program code or other data similar to the processor and memorydevice of the gaming device.

In an alternative embodiment, the central server or controller maintainsone or more predetermined pools or sets of predetermined game outcomes.In this embodiment, the central server or controller receives the gameoutcome request and independently selects a predetermined game outcomefrom a set or pool of game outcomes. The central server or controllerflags or marks the selected game outcome as used. Once a game outcome isflagged as used, it is prevented from further selection from the set orpool and cannot be selected by the central controller or server uponanother wager. The provided game outcome can include a primary gameoutcome, a secondary game outcome, primary and secondary game outcomes,or a series of game outcomes such as free games.

The central server or controller communicates the generated or selectedgame outcome to the initiated gaming device. The gaming device receivesthe generated or selected game outcome and provides the game outcome tothe player. In an alternative embodiment, how the generated or selectedgame outcome is to be presented or displayed to the player, such as areel symbol combination of a slot machine or a hand of cards dealt in acard game, is also determined by the central server or controller andcommunicated to the initiated gaming device to be presented or displayedto the player. Central production or control can assist a gamingestablishment or other entity in maintaining appropriate records,controlling gaming, reducing and preventing cheating or electronic orother errors, reducing or eliminating win-loss volatility, and the like.

In another embodiment, a predetermined game outcome value is determinedfor each of a plurality of linked or networked gaming devices based onthe results of a bingo, keno, or lottery game. In this embodiment, eachindividual gaming device utilizes one or more bingo, keno, or lotterygames to determine the predetermined game outcome value provided to theplayer for the interactive game played at that gaming device. In oneembodiment, the bingo, keno, or lottery game is displayed to the player.In another embodiment, the bingo, keno or lottery game is not displayedto the player, but the results of the bingo, keno, or lottery gamedetermine the predetermined game outcome value for the primary orsecondary game.

In the various bingo embodiments, as each gaming device is enrolled inthe bingo game, such as upon an appropriate wager or engaging an inputdevice, the enrolled gaming device is provided or associated with adifferent bingo card. Each bingo card consists of a matrix or array ofelements, wherein each element is designated with a separate indicia,such as a number. It should be appreciated that each different bingocard includes a different combination of elements. For example, if fourbingo cards are provided to four enrolled gaming devices, the sameelement may be present on all four of the bingo cards while anotherelement may solely be present on one of the bingo cards.

In operation of these embodiments, upon providing or associating adifferent bingo card with each of a plurality of enrolled gamingdevices, the central controller randomly selects or draws, one at atime, a plurality of the elements. As each element is selected, adetermination is made for each gaming device as to whether the selectedelement is present on the bingo card provided to that enrolled gamingdevice. This determination can be made by the central controller, thegaming device, a combination of the two, or in any other suitablemanner. If the selected element is present on the bingo card provided tothat enrolled gaming device, that selected element on the provided bingocard is marked or flagged. This process of selecting elements andmarking any selected elements on the provided bingo cards continuesuntil one or more predetermined patterns are marked on one or more ofthe provided bingo cards. It should be appreciated that in oneembodiment, the gaming device requires the player to engage a daubbutton (not shown) to initiate the process of the gaming device markingor flagging any selected elements.

After one or more predetermined patterns are marked on one or more ofthe provided bingo cards, a game outcome is determined for each of theenrolled gaming devices based, at least in part, on the selectedelements on the provided bingo cards. As described above, the gameoutcome determined for each gaming device enrolled in the bingo game isutilized by that gaming device to determine the predetermined gameoutcome provided to the player. For example, a first gaming device tohave selected elements marked in a predetermined pattern is provided afirst outcome of win $10 which will be provided to a first playerregardless of how the first player plays in a first game, and a secondgaming device to have selected elements marked in a differentpredetermined pattern is provided a second outcome of win $2 which willbe provided to a second player regardless of how the second player playsa second game. It should be appreciated that as the process of markingselected elements continues until one or more predetermined patterns aremarked, this embodiment ensures that at least one bingo card will winthe bingo game and thus at least one enrolled gaming device will providea predetermined winning game outcome to a player. It should beappreciated that other suitable methods for selecting or determining oneor more predetermined game outcomes may be employed.

In one example of the above-described embodiment, the predetermined gameoutcome may be based on a supplemental award in addition to any awardprovided for winning the bingo game as described above. In thisembodiment, if one or more elements are marked in supplemental patternswithin a designated number of drawn elements, a supplemental orintermittent award or value associated with the marked supplementalpattern is provided to the player as part of the predetermined gameoutcome. For example, if the four corners of a bingo card are markedwithin the first twenty selected elements, a supplemental award of $10is provided to the player as part of the predetermined game outcome. Itshould be appreciated that in this embodiment, the player of a gamingdevice may be provided a supplemental or intermittent award regardlessof whether the enrolled gaming device's provided bingo card wins or doesnot win the bingo game as described above.

In another embodiment, one or more of the gaming devices are incommunication with a central server or controller for monitoringpurposes only. That is, each individual gaming device randomly generatesthe game outcomes to be provided to the player and the central server orcontroller monitors the activities and events occurring on the pluralityof gaming devices. In one embodiment, the gaming network includes areal-time or on-line accounting and gaming information system operablycoupled to the central server or controller. The accounting and gaminginformation system of this embodiment includes a player database forstoring player profiles, a player tracking module for tracking playersand a credit system for providing automated casino transactions.

In one embodiment, the gaming device disclosed herein is associated withor otherwise integrated with one or more player tracking systems. Playertracking systems enable gaming establishments to recognize the value ofcustomer loyalty through identifying frequent customers and rewardingthem for their patronage. In one embodiment, the gaming device and/orplayer tracking system tracks any player's gaming activity at the gamingdevice. In one such embodiment, the gaming device includes at least onecard reader 38 in communication with the processor. In this embodiment,a player is issued a player identification card which has an encodedplayer identification number that uniquely identifies the player. When aplayer inserts their playing tracking card into the card reader to begina gaming session, the card reader reads the player identification numberoff the player tracking card to identify the player. The gaming deviceand/or associated player tracking system timely tracks any suitableinformation or data relating to the identified player's gaming session.Directly or via the central controller, the gaming device processorcommunicates such information to the player tracking system. The gamingdevice and/or associated player tracking system also timely tracks whena player removes their player tracking card when concluding play forthat gaming session. In another embodiment, rather than requiring aplayer to insert a player tracking card, the gaming device utilizes oneor more portable devices carried by a player, such as a cell phone, aradio frequency identification tag or any other suitable wireless deviceto track when a player begins and ends a gaming session. In anotherembodiment, the gaming device utilizes any suitable biometric technologyor ticket technology to track when a player begins and ends a gamingsession.

During one or more gaming sessions, the gaming device and/or playertracking system tracks any suitable information or data, such as anyamounts wagered, average wager amounts, and/or the time at which thesewagers are placed. In different embodiments, for one or more players,the player tracking system includes the player's account number, theplayer's card number, the player's first name, the player's surname, theplayer's preferred name, the player's player tracking ranking, anypromotion status associated with the player's player tracking card, theplayer's address, the player's birthday, the player's anniversary, theplayer's recent gaming sessions, or any other suitable data. In oneembodiment, such tracked information and/or any suitable featureassociated with the player tracking system is displayed on a playertracking display 40. In another embodiment, such tracked informationand/or any suitable feature associated with the player tracking systemis displayed via one or more service windows (not shown) which aredisplayed on the central display device and/or the upper display device.

In one embodiment, a plurality of the gaming devices are capable ofbeing connected together through a data network. In one embodiment, thedata network is a local area network (LAN), in which one or more of thegaming devices are substantially proximate to each other and an on-sitecentral server or controller as in, for example, a gaming establishmentor a portion of a gaming establishment. In another embodiment, the datanetwork is a wide area network (WAN) in which one or more of the gamingdevices are in communication with at least one off-site central serveror controller. In this embodiment, the plurality of gaming devices maybe located in a different part of the gaming establishment or within adifferent gaming establishment than the off-site central server orcontroller. Thus, the WAN may include an off-site central server orcontroller and an off-site gaming device located within gamingestablishments in the same geographic area, such as a city or state. TheWAN gaming system may be substantially identical to the LAN gamingsystem described above, although the number of gaming devices in eachsystem may vary relative to one another.

In another embodiment, the data network is an internet or intranet. Inthis embodiment, the operation of the gaming device can be viewed at thegaming device with at least one internet browser. In this embodiment,operation of the gaming device and accumulation of credits may beaccomplished with only a connection to the central server or controller(the internet/intranet server) through a conventional phone or otherdata transmission line, digital subscriber line (DSL), T-1 line, coaxialcable, fiber optic cable, or other suitable connection. In thisembodiment, players may access an internet game page from any locationwhere an internet connection and computer or other internet facilitatoris available. The expansion in the number of computers and number andspeed of internet connections in recent years increases opportunitiesfor players to play from an ever-increasing number of remote sites. Itshould be appreciated that the enhanced bandwidth of digital wirelesscommunications may render such technology suitable for some or allcommunications, particularly if such communications are encrypted.Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing thesophistication and response of the display and interaction with theplayer.

As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the present disclosure may beemployed in a server-based gaming system. In one such embodiment, asdescribed above, one or more gaming devices are in communication with acentral server or controller. The central server or controller may beany suitable server or computing device which includes at least oneprocessor and a memory or storage device. In alternative embodiments,the central server is a progressive controller or another gaming machinein the gaming system. In one embodiment, the memory device of thecentral server stores different game programs and instructions,executable by a gaming device processor, to control the gaming device.Each executable game program represents a different game or type of gamewhich may be played on one or more of the gaming devices in the gamingsystem. Such different games may include the same or substantially thesame game play with different pay tables. In different embodiments, theexecutable game program is for a primary game, a secondary game or both.In another embodiment, the game program may be executable as a secondarygame to be played simultaneous with the play of a primary game (whichmay be downloaded to or fixed on the gaming device) or vice versa.

In this embodiment, each gaming device at least includes one or moredisplay devices and/or one or more input devices for interaction with aplayer. A local processor, such as the above-described gaming deviceprocessor or a processor of a local server, is operable with the displaydevice(s) and/or the input device(s) of one or more of the gamingdevices.

In operation, the central controller is operable to communicate one ormore of the stored game programs to at least one local processor. Indifferent embodiments, the stored game programs are communicated ordelivered by embedding the communicated game program in a device or acomponent (e.g., a microchip to be inserted in a gaming device), writingthe game program on a disc or other media, or downloading or streamingthe game program over a dedicated data network, internet, or a telephoneline. After the stored game programs are communicated from the centralserver, the local processor executes the communicated program tofacilitate play of the communicated program by a player through thedisplay device(s) and/or input device(s) of the gaming device. That is,when a game program is communicated to a local processor, the localprocessor changes the game or type of game played at the gaming device.

In another embodiment, a plurality of gaming devices at one or moregaming sites may be networked to the central server in a progressiveconfiguration, as known in the art, wherein a portion of each wager toinitiate a base or primary game may be allocated to one or moreprogressive awards. In one embodiment, a progressive gaming system hostsite computer is coupled to a plurality of the central servers at avariety of mutually remote gaming sites for providing a multi-sitelinked progressive automated gaming system. In one embodiment, aprogressive gaming system host site computer may serve gaming devicesdistributed throughout a number of properties at different geographicallocations including, for example, different locations within a city ordifferent cities within a state.

In one embodiment, the progressive gaming system host site computer ismaintained for the overall operation and control of the progressivegaming system. In this embodiment, a progressive gaming system host sitecomputer oversees the entire progressive gaming system and is the masterfor computing all progressive jackpots. All participating gaming sitesreport to, and receive information from, the progressive gaming systemhost site computer. Each central server computer is responsible for alldata communication between the gaming device hardware and software andthe progressive gaming system host site computer. In one embodiment, anindividual gaming machine may trigger a progressive award win. Inanother embodiment, a central server (or the progressive gaming systemhost site computer) determines when a progressive award win istriggered. In another embodiment, an individual gaming machine and acentral controller (or progressive gaming system host site computer)work in conjunction with each other to determine when a progressive winis triggered, for example through an individual gaming machine meeting apredetermined requirement established by the central controller.

In one embodiment, a progressive award win is triggered based on one ormore game play events, such as a symbol-driven trigger. In otherembodiments, the progressive award triggering event or qualifyingcondition may be achieved by exceeding a certain amount of game play(such as number of games, number of credits, or amount of time), orreaching a specified number of points earned during game play. Inanother embodiment, a gaming device is randomly or apparently randomlyselected to provide a player of that gaming device one or moreprogressive awards. In one such embodiment, the gaming device does notprovide any apparent reasons to the player for winning a progressiveaward, wherein winning the progressive award is not triggered by anevent in or based specifically on any of the plays of any primary game.That is, a player is provided a progressive award without anyexplanation or alternatively with simple explanations. In anotherembodiment, a player is provided a progressive award at least partiallybased on a game triggered or symbol triggered event, such as at leastpartially based on the play of a primary game.

In one embodiment, one or more of the progressive awards are each fundedvia a side bet or side wager. In this embodiment, a player must place orwager a side bet to be eligible to win the progressive award associatedwith the side bet. In one embodiment, the player must place the maximumbet and the side bet to be eligible to win one of the progressiveawards. In another embodiment, if the player places or wagers therequired side bet, the player may wager at any credit amount during theprimary game (i.e., the player need not place the maximum bet and theside bet to be eligible to win one of the progressive awards). In onesuch embodiment, the greater the player's wager (in addition to theplaced side bet), the greater the odds or probability that the playerwill win one of the progressive awards. It should be appreciated thatone or more of the progressive awards may each be funded, at least inpart, based on the wagers placed on the primary games of the gamingmachines in the gaming system, via a gaming establishment or via anysuitable manner.

In another embodiment, one or more of the progressive awards arepartially funded via a side-bet or side-wager which the player may make(and which may be tracked via a side-bet meter). In one embodiment, oneor more of the progressive awards are funded with only side-bets orside-wagers placed. In another embodiment, one or more of theprogressive awards are funded based on player's wagers as describedabove as well as any side-bets or side-wagers placed.

In one alternative embodiment, a minimum wager level is required for agaming device to qualify to be selected to obtain one of the progressiveawards. In one embodiment, this minimum wager level is the maximum wagerlevel for the primary game in the gaming machine. In another embodiment,no minimum wager level is required for a gaming machine to qualify to beselected to obtain one of the progressive awards.

In another embodiment, a plurality of players at a plurality of linkedgaming devices in a gaming system participate in a group gamingenvironment. In one embodiment, for a group or community cooperationgame, a plurality of players at a plurality of linked gaming deviceswork in conjunction with one another, such as by playing together as ateam or group, to win one or more awards. In one such embodiment, anyaward won by the group is shared, either equally or based on anysuitable criteria, amongst the different players of the group. Inanother embodiment, for a group or community competition game, aplurality of players at a plurality of linked gaming devices competeagainst one another for one or more awards. In one such embodiment, aplurality of players at a plurality of linked gaming devices participatein a gaming tournament for one or more awards. In another embodiment, aplurality of players at a plurality of linked gaming devices play forone or more awards wherein an outcome generated by one gaming deviceaffects the outcomes generated by one or more linked gaming devices.

Variable Game Display Configurations

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flowchart of an example embodiment of aprocess for operating a gaming system, a gaming server or a gamingdevice disclosed herein is illustrated. In one embodiment, this processis embodied in one or more software programs stored in one or morememories and executed by one or more processors or one or more servers.Although this process is described with reference to the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 3, it should be appreciated that many other methodsof performing the acts associated with this process may be used. Forexample, the order of certain steps described may be changed, or certainsteps described may be optional.

In various embodiments, after initiating a plurality of games for theplayer to simultaneously play or participate in, as seen in FIG. 3, thegaming system and method disclosed herein causes a display device todisplay a first configuration of the plurality of simultaneously playedgames as indicated in block 102.

In one embodiment, the first configuration of the plurality of gamesdisplayed to the player includes causing each of the plurality of gamesto be allocated an equal (or substantially equal) amount of thedisplayed game play area. In another embodiment, the first configurationof the plurality of games displayed to the player includes causing eachof the plurality of games to be allocated different amounts of thedisplayed game play area. For example, as seen in FIG. 4A, after aplayer has selected to a play a slot game 150 a and selected toparticipate in a community poker game 150 b, the gaming system displaysthe play of these two games in a first configuration in which the slotgame is allocated a greater portion of the displayed game play area. Inthis illustrated example, the gaming system provides appropriatemessages such as “WHILE OTHER PLAYER'S JOIN THE COMMUNITY POKER GAME,LET'S SEE HOW YOU DID IN YOUR WAGERED ON PLAY OF THE SLOT GAME” and“CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR CHERRY-CHERRY-CHERRY SYMBOL COMBINATION WON YOU$20” to the player visually, or through suitable audio or audiovisualdisplays.

In one embodiment, the gaming system accounts for the different types ofgames being simultaneously played in determining and displaying a firstconfiguration of the plurality of simultaneously played games.Specifically, the gaming system determines that, based on thecharacteristics or features of the games being simultaneously played bythe player, one or more display reconfiguration events are more likelyto occur in certain of the plurality of games. In this embodiment, inanticipation of having to modify the configuration of how the pluralityof games are displayed to the player, the gaming system utilizes a firstconfiguration to try and minimize such subsequent modifications. Forexample, expanding on the illustrated example of FIG. 4A, the gamingsystem determines that, based on the slot game having a significantlyquicker play cycle than the community poker game, the slot game isallocated a greater area or portion of the displayed game play area to(and the community poker game is allocated a lesser area or portion ofthe displayed game play area). In this example, because the illustratedslot game is completed, on average, within three seconds and theillustrated community poker game is completed, on average, within threeminutes (i.e., one-hundred-eighty seconds), the gaming system determinesthat the player's attention should be predominantly directed to the slotgame to repeatedly place wagers, view generated outcome and view anyprovided awards. Put differently, since sixty slot games are completed,on average, in the amount of time it takes, on average, to complete onecommunity poker game, compared to the community poker game, a greaterquantity of events that require the player's attention will occur in theslot game during the time period it takes to complete one communitypoker game and thus, to focus the player's attention on the slot game,the gaming system determines to allocate a greater portion of thedisplayed game play area to the slot game.

In addition to displaying the plurality of simultaneously, concurrentlyor overlapping played games, the gaming system monitors the plays of theplurality of simultaneously played games and determines, as indicated indiamond 104 of FIG. 3, if one of a plurality of display reconfigurationevents has occurred. In one embodiment, a display reconfiguration eventoccurs in association with one or more the displayed events which occurin one of the simultaneously played games. In this embodiment, thegaming system designates one or more displayed events or outcomes whichoccur in association with one or more of the displayed games as displayreconfiguration events.

In one embodiment, each display reconfiguration event is associated witha configuration of how the plurality of games are to be displayed on thedisplay device. That is, one display reconfiguration event is associatedwith a configuration of how the plurality of games are to be displayedon the display device when that display reconfiguration event occurs andanother display reconfiguration event is associated with another,possibly different configuration of how the plurality of games are to bedisplayed on the display device when that display reconfiguration eventoccurs. Specifically, each display reconfiguration event is associatedwith a configuration of one or more of: a location which each of theplurality of simultaneously played games are to be displayed at, a sizewhich each of the plurality of simultaneously played games are to bedisplayed as, a color which each of the plurality of simultaneouslyplayed games are to be displayed as, a brightness or dimming which eachof the plurality of simultaneously played games are to be displayed as,and/or any displayed indicators, displayed characteristics or displayedfeatures associated with each of the plurality of simultaneously playedgames.

If the gaming system determines that a display reconfiguration event hasnot occurred, the gaming system returns to diamond 104 and continuesmonitoring the plays of the simultaneously played games to determine ifone of the plurality of display reconfiguration events has occurred.That is, if the gaming system determines that no event has occurred inany of the games that requires the player's specific attention, thegaming system continues displaying the plurality of games as describedabove.

On the other hand, if the gaming system determines that a displayreconfiguration event has occurred, the gaming system determines whetherthe current configuration of how the plurality of simultaneously playedgames are displayed to the player corresponds to the configurationassociated with the display reconfiguration event which occurred asindicated in diamond 106. That is, if the gaming system determines thatan event has occurred in at least one of the games that requires theplayer's attention, the gaming system determines whether the currentdisplay configuration of the displayed game play area of the displaydevice is one that already draws the player's attention to the eventthat occurred.

If the gaming system determines that the current configuration of howthe plurality of simultaneously played games are displayed to the playercorresponds to the configuration associated with the displayreconfiguration event which occurred, the gaming system returns todiamond 104 and continues monitoring the plays of the simultaneouslyplayed games to determine if another one of the plurality of displayreconfiguration events has occurred. For example, as seen in FIG. 4A, ifthe gaming system determines that a display reconfiguration event of ageneration of a symbol combination in the simultaneously played slotgame occurs and the gaming system further determines that theconfiguration of how the plurality of simultaneously played games aredisplayed to the player matches the way the plurality of simultaneouslyplayed games are currently displayed to the player, the gaming systemdoes not modify the configuration of the display device. Rather, thegaming system continues displaying the plays of the slot game and thecommunity poker game to the player and awaits another displayreconfiguration event.

On the other hand, if the gaming system determines that the currentconfiguration of how the plurality of simultaneously played games aredisplayed to the player does not correspond to the configurationassociated with the display reconfiguration event which occurred, thegaming system modifies the configuration of how the plurality ofsimultaneously played games are displayed to correspond to theconfiguration associated with the display reconfiguration event whichoccurred as indicated in block 108 of FIG. 3. That is, if the gamingsystem determines that the current configuration of how the plurality ofsimultaneously played games are displayed does not adequately focus theplayer's attention to a specific one of the games, the gaming systemreconfigures how the plurality of simultaneously played games aredisplayed to focus the player's attention to the specific one of thegames. Put differently, by either increasing the display resourcesattributable to one game and/or decreasing the display resourcesattributable to the remaining simultaneously played games, the gamingsystem disclosed herein modifies how such games are displayed to theplayer in an attempt to increase a player's awareness of one or moreevents occurring in one game while decreasing the player's awareness ofone or more events occurring in the remaining simultaneously playedgames.

For example, as seen in FIG. 4B, after determining that a displayreconfiguration event associated with a turn or opportunity for theplayer to raise the bet, call the bet or fold occurred in the communitypoker game, the gaming system modified, altered or otherwisereconfigured the display device by reallocating a greater area of thegame play area to the community poker game. That is, the gaming systemmodified how the slot game and the community poker game are displayed tothe player such that the community poker game became the focal point ofthe display device. In this illustrated example, the gaming systemprovides appropriate messages such as “WHILE THE REELS SPIN, IT IS TIMETO FOCUS ON THE COMMUNITY POKER GAME” and “DO YOU WANT TO FOLD, CALL ORRAISE?” to the player visually, or through suitable audio or audiovisualdisplays.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the gaming systemmodifies how the plurality of simultaneously played games are displayedto the player by scaling the respective sizes of the plurality ofsimultaneously played games. In this embodiment, the gaming systemcauses the game or games which require the player's attention to becomelarger (while also causing the game or games which do not require theplayer's attention to become smaller). In one embodiment, the gamingsystem preserves or maintains the aspect ratio of the displayed gameswhen scaling the size of one or more of the games played. In anotherembodiment, the gaming system disregards the aspect ratio of thedisplayed games when scaling the size of one or more of the gamesplayed.

In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the gamingsystem modifies how the plurality of simultaneously played games aredisplayed to the player by moving the location of the plurality ofsimultaneously played games. In this embodiment, the gaming systemcauses the game or games which require the player's attention to move toone location, such as the top portion of the displayed game play area(while also causing the game or games which do not require the player'sattention to move to another location, such as a bottom portion of thedisplayed game play area).

In another embodiment, the gaming system modifies how the plurality ofsimultaneously played games are displayed to the player by indicatingone or more games to the player while not indicating one or more othergames. In one such embodiment, the gaming system highlights or otherwisedisplays a border around the game or games which require the player'sattention (while not highlighting the games that do not require theplayer's attention). In another such embodiment, the gaming systemflashes the game or games which require the player's attention (whilenot flashing the games that do not require the player's attention). Inanother such embodiment, the gaming system brightens the game or gameswhich require the player's attention (while not brightening the gamesthat do not require the player's attention). It should be appreciatedthat such indications of one or more simultaneously played games may beutilized when a plurality of the games each need the player's attention.For example, if, after the gaming system increases the size of a firstgame (and decreases the size of a second game) to draw the player'sattention to the requirement that the player make a selection in thefirst game, a display reconfiguration event occurs for a second gamethat requires the player's attention for the second game, the gamingsystem retains the sizes of both the first and second games and utilizesan alternative indicator to also draw the player's attention to thesecond game, such as a flashing of the second game.

In another embodiment, the gaming system modifies how the plurality ofsimultaneously played games are displayed to the player by removing theplayer's focus from one or more of the plurality of simultaneouslyplayed games. In one such embodiment, the gaming system cause the gameor games which do not require the player's attention to be grayed out orblurred (while also causing the game or games which require the player'sattention to remain in focus). It should be appreciated that in oneembodiment, removing focus is used if the player is waiting on thatgame. For example if the player is waiting in a game lobby for acommunal poker table to fill up, that communal poker game is blurred outwhile the player is waiting and the community poker game is thenmaximized when the table is full and the game is ready to continue.

After modifying the configuration of how the plurality of simultaneouslyplayed games are displayed to the player, the gaming system returns todiamond 104 and continues monitoring the plays of the simultaneouslyplayed games to determine if another one of the plurality of displayreconfiguration events has occurred.

In one embodiment, the plurality of simultaneously played gamesdisplayed to the player include a plurality of wagered on primary orbase games. For example, as seen in FIG. 5, the plurality ofsimultaneously played games include two slot games 150 a and 150 c andone community poker game 150 b. In another example, as seen in FIG. 6,the plurality of simultaneously played games include one slot game 150 aand two community poker games 150 c and 150 d. In another embodiment,the plurality of simultaneously played games displayed to the playerinclude a plurality of triggered secondary or bonus games. In anotherembodiment, the plurality of simultaneously played games displayed tothe player include at least one wagered on primary game and at least onetriggered secondary game.

Any suitable game, type of game or quantity of games may be implementedas one or more of the simultaneously played games disclosed herein. Indifferent embodiments, one or more of the simultaneously played gamesinclude, but are not limited to: any suitable slot game, any suitablefree spins or free activations game, any suitable wheel game, anysuitable card game, any suitable keno game, any suitable bingo game, anysuitable die or dice game, any suitable virtual horse racing game; anysuitable offer and acceptance game, any suitable award ladder game, anysuitable puzzle-type game, any suitable persistence game, any suitableselection game, any suitable cascading symbols game, any suitable waysto win game, any suitable scatter pay game, any suitable eliminationgame, any suitable group or community cooperation game, any suitablegroup or community competition game, or any other suitable type of game.It should be appreciated that regardless of which games or types ofgames are simultaneously played, as described above, each displayed gameincludes a displayed generation of an outcome for that game and thedisplaying of any award associated with the generated outcome for thatgame.

In one embodiment, the display device which displays the plurality ofsimultaneously played games to the player includes a single displaydevice, such as primary or central display device 16. In anotherembodiment, the display device which displays the plurality ofsimultaneously played games to the player includes a plurality ofdisplay devices which are linked or otherwise configured to function asa single display device. In this embodiment, while the game play area iscaused to be displayed by a plurality of display devices, each of theplurality of simultaneously played games are still displayed in thesingle game play area.

In one embodiment, each simultaneously played game is associated withone or more display reconfiguration events. In one such embodiment, theplurality of display reconfiguration events associated with anindividual game have the same configuration of how the plurality ofsimultaneously played games are displayed to the player. For example,both: (i) the display reconfiguration event of an elapsed amount of timesince the completion of a play of a slot game without the player placinga wager on another play of the slot game, and (ii) the displayreconfiguration event of a displayed generation of a symbol combinationin the play of the slot game; have the same configuration of how theplurality of simultaneously played games are displayed to the player. Inthis example, regardless of if the amount of time has elapsed since thecompletion of a play of a slot game without the player placing a wageron another play of the slot game, or if a symbol combination isgenerated in the play of the slot game, the gaming system allocates thesame portion of the displayed game play area to the slot game.

In another such embodiment, the plurality of display reconfigurationevents associated with an individual game have different configurationsof how the plurality of simultaneously played games are displayed to theplayer. For example, the display reconfiguration event of a firstelapsed amount of time since the gaming system requested the player tomake a wager or fold a hand in a community card game has a firstconfiguration of how the plurality of simultaneously played games aredisplayed to the player, and the display reconfiguration event of asecond elapsed amount of time since the gaming system requested theplayer to make a wager or fold a hand in a community card game has asecond configuration of how the plurality of simultaneously played gamesare displayed to the player. In this example, the first configuration isassociated with allocating a first portion of the displayed game playarea to the community card game and the second configuration isassociated with allocating a second, greater portion of the displayedgame play area to the community card game (i.e., the more time thatelapses without the player making the required inputs for the play ofthe community card game, the larger portion of the game play area isdedicated to the displaying the community card game).

In different embodiments, the display reconfiguration event includes,but is not limited to:

-   -   i. a deposit of an amount of funds at the gaming device;    -   ii. an identification of a player;    -   iii. an opportunity or turn for a player to place a wager;    -   iv. an opportunity for a player to initiate a play of a game;    -   v. a player placing a wager (regardless of the wager amount);    -   vi. a player placing a side-wager (regardless of the side-wager        amount);    -   vii. any player placing a wager greater than a designated wager        amount;    -   viii. any player placing a side wager greater than a designated        side wager amount;    -   ix. a player wagering on a number of paylines;    -   x. a player wagering on a designated payline;    -   xi. a player wagering on a number of ways to win;    -   xii. a request of a player to place a wager on a play of a game;    -   xiii. an amount of time elapsed in which a player has not placed        a wager on a play of a game;    -   xiv. a player engaging an input device to cause a generation of        an outcome;    -   xv. a request of a player to engage an input device to cause a        generation of an outcome;    -   xvi. an amount of time elapsed in which a player has not engaged        an input device to cause a generation of an outcome;    -   xvii. an activation of a reel (or a designated reel);    -   xviii. an activation of a plurality of reels;    -   xix. a generation of any outcome (or a designated outcome);    -   xx. a generation of any outcome (or a designated outcome)        associated with an award;    -   xxi. a generation of any outcome (or a designated outcome)        associated with an award over a designated value;    -   xxii. a generation of an outcome (or a designated outcome) on a        designated payline;    -   xxiii. a generation of an outcome (or a designated outcome) in a        scatter configuration;    -   xxiv. a generation of a winning way to win (or a designated        winning way to win);    -   xxv. a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination;    -   xxvi. a generation of a partial designated symbol combination;    -   xxvii. a generation of a designated symbol or symbol combination        on a designated payline;    -   xxviii. a generation of a designated symbol or symbol        combination in a scatter configuration;    -   xxix. an accumulation of a designated quantity of symbols or        secondary game elements;    -   xxx. a triggering of a play of a secondary or bonus game;    -   xxxi. an activation of a secondary or bonus display (such as an        award generator);    -   xxxii. an activation of a community award generator;    -   xxxiii. a generation of any outcome (or a designated outcome) in        a secondary game;    -   xxxiv. a player engaging an input device to make a selection in        a game;    -   xxxv. a request of a player to engage an input device to make a        selection in a game;    -   xxxvi. an amount of time elapsed in which a player has not        engaged an input device to make a selection in a game;    -   xxxvii. an amount of free spins provided;    -   xxxviii. an amount of time elapsed;    -   xxxix. an amount of time elapsed between games;    -   xl. a conclusion of a game;    -   xli. an error condition associated with a game (e.g., a gaming        device's failure to communicate with a server or another game        client);    -   xlii. a timeout of a gaming device;    -   xliii. a timeout of a game;    -   xliv. an amount of time elapsed since a conclusion of a game;    -   xlv. a credit meter reaching a designated amount;    -   xlvi. a credit meter reaching a designated range of amounts;    -   xlvii. an occurrence of a chat event;    -   xlviii. a modification of an award value (e.g., a change of a        progressive award value);    -   xlix. an addition of a game to the plurality of games available        to be played;    -   l. a removal of a game that is currently being played (or        available to be played);    -   li. any event disclosed herein which is tracked for a group of        gaming devices;    -   lii. any event disclosed herein which includes a group of gaming        devices working together;    -   liii. any event disclosed herein which is associated with a        group of players working together;    -   liv. a communication from another player;    -   lv. a communication from a gaming establishment or a        representative of a gaming establishment;    -   lvi. any suitable event which occurs in association with a        player's gaming experience; and/or    -   lvii. any suitable non-event (i.e., a lack of an event) which        does not occur in association with a player's gaming experience.

In another embodiment, the gaming system dynamically configures theinput devices to be associated with whichever game is currentlydisplayed to draw the player's attention. For example, if at a firstpoint in time, the configuration of the display device is that ablackjack game is displayed to draw the player's attention (i.e., theblackjack game is highlighted or displayed as a larger game relative tothe other simultaneously played game), the gaming system configures theinput devices to be associated with the blackjack game. In this example,if at a second, subsequent point in time, the configuration of thedisplay device is that a keno game is displayed to draw the player'sattention (i.e., the keno game is highlighted or displayed as a largergame relative to the other simultaneously played game), the gamingsystem configures the input devices to be associated with the keno game.

In another embodiment, the gaming system utilizes one or more secondarydevice management applications to configure one or more secondarydevices. In one such embodiment, the gaming system dynamicallyconfigures one or more secondary devices, such as any light rings or topboxes to be associated with whichever game is currently displayed todraw the player's attention. For example, if at a first point in time,the configuration of the display device is that a bingo game isdisplayed to draw the player's attention (i.e., the bingo game ishighlighted or displayed as a larger game relative to the othersimultaneously played game), the gaming system configures one or moresecondary devices to be associated with the bingo game. In this example,if at a second, subsequent point in time, the configuration of thedisplay device is that a triggered secondary game is displayed to drawthe player's attention (i.e., the triggered secondary game ishighlighted or displayed as a larger game relative to the othersimultaneously played game), the gaming system configures one or more ofthe secondary devices to be associated with the triggered secondarygame. It should be appreciated that various resources, such as video,sound, buttons, memory, processors and/or memory storage, can be sharedwhen multiple games are simultaneously played.

In another embodiment, independent of any display reconfiguration event,the gaming system enables a player to select which of the plurality ofsimultaneously played games will be allocated a greater portion of thedisplayed game play area. For example, if a first game is currentlyminimized but the player wants to view the first game in more detail,the gaming system enables the player to touch an area of the displaydevice associated with the first game to increase the size of the firstgame (and decrease the size of one or more other games that arecurrently occupying a greater portion of the game play area). In anotherembodiment, independent of any display reconfiguration event, thecentral server communicates information or messages to redefine orreconfigure the game play area of the display device.

In another embodiment, the gaming system prioritizes the displayreconfiguration events to determine the configuration of the displaydevice when two or more display reconfiguration events occursimultaneously or substantially simultaneously. In one embodiment, thegaming system enables the player to input or select the priority of thedisplay reconfiguration event. In one such embodiment, the gaming systemsaves or stores the player's inputted priority information inassociation with the player tracking system described above. In theseembodiments, the gaming system enables the player to rank the eventsinto a hierarchy followed by the gaming system to prioritize the displayreconfiguration events to determine how the plurality of simultaneouslyplayed games will be displayed to the player. For example, if twodisplay reconfiguration events overlap and each display reconfigurationevent is associated with a different simultaneously played game beingallocated an increased portion of the displayed game play area, thegaming system determines that, based on one or more stored priorities,the simultaneously played game associated with the larger wager amountis allocated the increased portion of the displayed game play area.

In another embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to selectivelydisable the reconfiguration of how the plurality of simultaneouslyplayed games are displayed to the player. In another embodiment, thegaming system enables a player to disable the reconfiguration of how theplurality of simultaneously played games are displayed for one or moredisplay reconfiguration events and enable the reconfiguration of how theplurality of simultaneously played games are displayed for one or moreother display reconfiguration events. In one such embodiment, the gamingsystem utilizes an override button to enable the player to disable oroverride a reconfiguration of how the plurality of games are displayed(in response to a display reconfiguration event occurring). In anothersuch embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to prioritize whichdisplay reconfiguration events the gaming system should reconfigure howthe plurality of games are displayed (when such display reconfigurationevents occur) and which display reconfiguration events the gaming systemshould not reconfigure how the plurality of games are displayed (whensuch display reconfiguration events occur). In this embodiment, thegaming system saves or stores the player's inputted enable/disabledisplay reconfiguration event information in association with the playertracking system described above. For example, the gaming system enablesthe player to: (i) designate that any display reconfiguration events ofwinning an award over a designated amount are enabled (i.e., the gamingsystem will cause a reconfiguration of how the plurality of games aredisplayed to the player in response to this display reconfigurationevent occurring) and (ii) designate that any display reconfigurationevents of winning an award less than the designated amount are disabled(i.e., the gaming system will not cause a reconfiguration of how theplurality of games are displayed to the player in response to thisdisplay reconfiguration event occurring).

In another embodiment, if a display reconfiguration event occurs, thegaming system reconfigures how the plurality of simultaneously playedgames are displayed to the player for a designated period of time andthen reverts back to how the games were displayed to the player prior tothe occurrence of the display reconfiguration event. That is, if anevent occurs in the play of one of the games that requires the player'sattention or focus, the gaming system temporarily reconfigures how thegames are displayed to the player to draw the player's attention orfocus to that one game. For example, if the gaming system is currentlydisplaying a community poker game as the predominate game on thedisplayed game play area (i.e., the community poker game is allocated alarger portion of the displayed game play area than any other game beingplayed) and a winning outcome is generated in a play of a slot game, thegaming system will: (i) reallocate a larger portion of the displayedgame play area to the slot game (and thus reallocate a smaller portionof the displayed game play area to the community poker game) for adesignated period of time, such as three seconds, and then (ii)reallocate the larger portion of the displayed game play area back tothe community poker game (and thus reallocate a smaller portion of thedisplayed game play area back to the slot game).

In another embodiment, a display reconfiguration event occursindependent of any displayed event in any play of any of the displayedgames. That is, the gaming system designates one or more events whichare not displayed in any plays of any games (i.e., a mystery event) asdisplay reconfiguration events. In another embodiment, a displayreconfiguration event occurs at least partially based on a gametriggered event, such as at least partially based on a play of one ofthe displayed games.

In another embodiment, rather than utilizing only one display device asdescribed above, the gaming system utilizes a plurality of displaydevices and varies which game (or other aspects associated with whichgame) is displayed on which display device based on which game has aslow game cycle and which game has a fast game cycle. For example, afirst, slow playing game, such as a slot game, takes 3 seconds to playwhile a second, slow playing game, such as a racing game, takes 90seconds to play. In this example, the gaming system displays the slowplaying game on the top or secondary display device while the primary orbottom display device switches between displaying the fast playing gameand the betting controls of the slow playing game. This provides thatthe player only interacts with the primary or bottom display devicewhich is easier for the player to reach (compared to the top orsecondary display device). This further provides that only the primaryor bottom display device is required to be associated with a touchscreen as described herein.

It should be appreciated that in different embodiments, one or more of:

-   -   i. which events of which games qualify as display        reconfiguration events;    -   ii. which games are associated with one or more display        reconfiguration events;    -   iii. a quantity of display reconfiguration events associated a        game;    -   iv. which displayed configuration of a plurality of        simultaneously played games is associated with a display        reconfiguration event;    -   v. a quantity of displayed configurations associated with a        display reconfiguration event;    -   vi. how a modification of a displayed configuration of a        plurality of simultaneously played games is displayed to a        player;    -   vii. which indicators (i.e., highlighting a game, blurring out a        game, moving a location of a game) are utilized to modify how a        plurality of simultaneously played games are displayed to a        player;    -   viii. a quantity of indicators utilized to modify how a        plurality of simultaneously played games are displayed to a        player;    -   ix. an amount of the display game play area associated with a        game of a display configuration;    -   x. if a display reconfiguration event occurs;    -   xi. a quantity of games simultaneously played by a player;    -   xii. which games are available to be simultaneously played by a        player;    -   xiii. a priority of two or more display reconfiguration events        overlapping in occurrence;    -   xiv. which input devices are associated with which games for        which displayed configurations of a plurality of simultaneously        played games;    -   xv. which secondary devices are associated with which games for        which displayed configurations of a plurality of simultaneously        played games;    -   xvi. if a player enabled to switch the displayed configuration        of a plurality of simultaneously played games;    -   xvii. which displayed configurations of a plurality of        simultaneously played games is the player enabled to utilize;        and/or    -   xviii. any determination disclosed herein;        is/are predetermined, randomly determined, randomly determined        based on one or more weighted percentages, determined based on a        generated symbol or symbol combination, determined based on a        random determination by the central controller, determined based        on a random determination at the gaming system, determined based        on a player's selection, determined based on one or more side        wagers placed, determined based on the player's primary game        wager, determined based on time (such as the time of day),        determined based on an amount of coin-in accumulated in one or        more pools, determined based on a status of the player (i.e., a        player tracking status), or determined based on any other        suitable method or criteria.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming system comprising: ahousing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of inputdevices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devicesincluding: (i) an acceptor, and (ii) a cashout device; at least onecontroller configured to operate with the display device and theplurality of input devices to: (a) if a physical item is received viathe acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on amonetary value associated with the received physical item, (b) during afirst period of time: (i) in a first portion of a game play area,display a first plurality of reels spinning, (ii) in a second portion ofthe game play area, display a second plurality of reels, wherein duringthe first period of time, said second portion of the game play area issmaller than the first portion of the game play area, (iii) stop thespinning of the first plurality of reels to display a plurality ofsymbols, (iv) determine an award amount associated with the displayedplurality of symbols of the stopped first plurality of reels, and (v)display the determined award amount associated with the displayedplurality of symbols of the stopped first plurality of reels, whereinthe credit balance is increasable based on the determined award amountassociated with the displayed plurality of symbols of the stopped firstplurality of reels, (c) if a display reconfiguration event occurs,during a second, subsequent period of time: (i) display at least one ofthe symbols of at least one stopped reel of the first plurality ofreels, (ii) display the second plurality of reels spinning, whereinduring the second period of time, the second plurality of reels arelarger than at least one of the reels of the first plurality of reels,and (iii) stop the spinning of the second plurality of reels to displaya plurality of symbols, and (d) if a cashout input is received via thecashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with thecredit balance.
 2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the displayreconfiguration event occurs based on the displayed plurality of symbolsof the stopped first plurality of reels.
 3. The gaming system of claim1, wherein during the second period of time, the at least one controlleris configured to: (i) determine an award amount based, at least in part,on the displayed plurality of symbols of the stopped second plurality ofreels, and (ii) display the determined award amount.
 4. The gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein the award amount associated with thedisplayed plurality of symbols of the stopped first plurality of reelsinclude at least one selected from the group consisting of: a quantityof monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, a quantity ofpromotional credits, and a quantity of player tracking points.
 5. Agaming system comprising: a housing; a display device supported by thehousing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, saidplurality of input devices including: (i) an acceptor, and (ii) acashout device; at least one controller configured to operate with thedisplay device and the plurality of input devices to: (a) if a physicalitem is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, atleast in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physicalitem, (b) during a first period of time: (i) in a first portion of agame play area, display a first plurality of reels spinning, (ii) in asecond portion of the game play area, display a second plurality ofreels, wherein during the first period of time, said second portion ofthe game play area is smaller than the first portion of the game playarea, (iii) stop the spinning of the first plurality of reels to displaya first plurality of symbols, (iv) determine a first award amountassociated with the displayed first plurality of symbols, and (v)display the determined first award amount, wherein the credit balance isincreasable based on the determined first award amount, (c) if a displayreconfiguration event occurs, during a second, subsequent period oftime: (i) in the first portion of the game play area, display thestopped first plurality of reels, and (ii) in the second portion of thegame play area: (A) display the second plurality of reels spinning,wherein during the second period of time, said second portion of thegame play area is larger than the first portion of the game play area,(B) stop the spinning of the second plurality of reels to display asecond plurality of symbols, (C) determine a second award amountassociated with the displayed second plurality of symbols, and (D)display the determined second award amount, wherein the credit balanceis increasable based on the determined second award amount, and (d) if acashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation ofany payout associated with the credit balance.
 6. The gaming system ofclaim 5, wherein the display reconfiguration event occurs based, atleast in part, on the displayed first plurality of symbols.
 7. Thegaming system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first award amountand the second award amount include at least one selected from the groupconsisting of: a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity ofnon-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantityof player tracking points.
 8. A gaming system server comprising: atleast one controller configured to: (a) during a first period of time:(i) cause a display device to display a first plurality of reelsspinning in a first portion of a game play area, (ii) cause the displaydevice to display a second plurality of reels in a second portion of thegame play area, wherein during the first period of time, said secondportion of the game play area is smaller than the first portion of thegame play area, (iii) stop the spinning of the first plurality of reelsto display a plurality of symbols, (iv) determine an award amountassociated with the displayed plurality of symbols of the stopped firstplurality of reels, and (v) cause the display device to display thedetermined award amount associated with the displayed plurality ofsymbols of the stopped first plurality of reels, wherein a creditbalance is increasable based on the determined award amount associatedwith the displayed plurality of symbols of the stopped first pluralityof reels, said credit balance being: (i) increasable via an acceptor ofa physical item associated with a monetary value, and (ii) decreasablevia a cashout device, and (b) if a display reconfiguration event occurs,during a second, subsequent period of time: (i) cause the display deviceto display at least one of the symbols of at least one stopped reel ofthe first plurality of reels, (ii) cause the display device to displaythe second plurality of reels spinning, wherein during the second periodof time, the second plurality of reels are larger than at least one ofthe reels of the first plurality of reels, and (iii) stop the spinningof the second plurality of reels to display a plurality of symbols. 9.The gaming system server of claim 8, wherein the display reconfigurationevent occurs based on the displayed plurality of symbols of the stoppedfirst plurality of reels.
 10. The gaming system server of claim 8,wherein during the second period of time, the at least one controller isconfigured to: (i) determine an award amount based, at least in part, onthe displayed plurality of symbols of the stopped second plurality ofreels, and (ii) cause the display device to display the determined awardamount.
 11. The gaming system server of claim 8, wherein the awardamount associated with the displayed plurality of symbols of the stoppedfirst plurality of reels include at least one selected from the groupconsisting of: a quantity of monetary credits, a quantity ofnon-monetary credits, a quantity of promotional credits, and a quantityof player tracking points.
 12. The gaming system server of claim 8,which transmits and receives data over a data network.
 13. The gamingsystem server of claim 12, wherein the data network is an internet. 14.A gaming system server comprising: at least one controller configuredto: (a) during a first period of time: (i) cause a display device todisplay a first plurality of reels spinning in a first portion of a gameplay area, (ii) cause the display device to display a second pluralityof reels in a second portion of the game play area, wherein during thefirst period of time, said second portion of the game play area issmaller than the first portion of the game play area, (iii) stop thespinning of the first plurality of reels to display a first plurality ofsymbols, (iv) determine a first award amount associated with thedisplayed first plurality of symbols, (v) cause the display device todisplay the determined first award amount, wherein a credit balance isincreasable based on the determined first award amount, said creditbalance being: (i) increasable via an acceptor of a physical itemassociated with a monetary value, and (ii) decreasable via a cashoutdevice, and (b) if a display reconfiguration event occurs, during asecond, subsequent period of time: (i) in the first portion of the gameplay area, display the stopped first plurality of reels, and (ii) in thesecond portion of the game play area: (A) cause the display device todisplay the second plurality of reels spinning, wherein during thesecond period of time, said second portion of the game play area islarger than the first portion of the game play area, (B) stop thespinning of the second plurality of reels to display a second pluralityof symbols, (C) determine a second award amount associated with thedisplayed second plurality of symbols, and (D) cause the display deviceto display the determined second award amount, wherein the creditbalance is increasable based on the determined second award amount. 15.The gaming system server of claim 14, wherein the displayreconfiguration event occurs based, at least in part, on the displayedfirst plurality of symbols.
 16. The gaming system server of claim 14,wherein at least one of the first award amount and the second awardamount include at least one selected from the group consisting of: aquantity of monetary credits, a quantity of non-monetary credits, aquantity of promotional credits, and a quantity of player trackingpoints.
 17. The gaming system server of claim 14, which transmits andreceives data over a data network.
 18. The gaming system server of claim17, wherein the data network is an internet.